House passes $9.7 billion in Sandy aid

1:52 PM,
Jan. 4, 2013

Rosemary McDermott and her husband Anthony Minor react as they open a safe containing a family genealogy they were able to salvage from the basement of her mother's home in the Breezy Point section of the Queens borough of New York, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. A fire destroyed more than 100 homes in the oceanfront community during Superstorm Sandy. On the left are Todd Griffin and Kevin Striegle, volunteers with Adventures in Missions, who helped find the safe beneath the rubble.

Written by

Malia Rulon Herman
Gannett Washington Bureau

More than two months after Hurricane Sandy began pounding New York and New Jersey, the House voted overwhelmingly Friday to approve $9.7 billion to pay flood insurance claims related to the storm.

The vote was 354-67. The Senate was expected to consider the measure later Friday.

Northeast lawmakers hope the $9.7 billion is just the first installment toward a total $60 billion in federal assistance for victims of the storm. The House is expected to consider the remaining funds in two parts on Jan. 15. ...